Inside

Inside is a modestly demanding puzzle platformer from 2016, but the Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination delivers exceptional performance across the board. Benchmark data shows that this pairing is not merely adequate for the game; it is overwhelmingly capable, maintaining high frame rates even at maximum settings on 4K displays. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance, optimal configurations, and the relative contribution of each component.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is the maximum available "Ultra" setting. The data demonstrates that the system has substantial headroom, as even the heaviest preset still delivers frame rates far exceeding the playable threshold.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset achieves an average of 95 FPS. This is the most demanding configuration available, and it comfortably clears the 60 FPS threshold by a margin of 35 FPS. While the High preset yields a slightly higher average of 99 FPS, Ultra is the optimal choice for visual fidelity without any performance compromise.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset delivers an average of 151 FPS. This represents a significant jump over the 4K result, showing that the resolution scaling is favorable for this hardware. The system is so far ahead of the requirement that users can enable every visual enhancement without concern.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset reaches an average of 210 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded at the maximum settings, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate displays. The data indicates that the bottleneck shifts away from the GPU at this resolution, allowing the CPU and GPU combination to stretch its legs fully.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provide context for how other hardware would behave in this system. The Intel Core i9-14900K has an average benchmark score of 79097, with the closest competitor being the Intel Core i9-14900KF at 79371, a delta of -0.3%. This negligible difference means the two CPUs would perform nearly identically in Inside. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scores 79574 (-0.6%), and the AMD EPYC 7413 scores 80041 (-1.2%), all within a narrow performance band. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scores 77740, which is 1.7% slower, still a very close match.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, -0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250, -0.3%), the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, -0.4%), and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X (23276, -0.4%). The deltas here are all under half a percent, suggesting that these graphics cards would produce nearly identical frame rates in Inside. A user swapping the RTX 3080 for any of these alternatives would likely see no measurable difference in gameplay smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across all resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 430 FPS, the Medium preset averages 352 FPS with a minimum of 299 and a maximum of 405, the High preset averages 220 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 210 FPS. The transition from Low to Ultra reduces performance by roughly half, but even the lowest figure is more than three times the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 317 FPS, the Medium preset averages 253 FPS with a minimum of 215 and a maximum of 291, the High preset averages 158 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 151 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a consistent drop of roughly 25-30% across all settings, which is expected for a resolution increase that nearly doubles the pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 199 FPS, the Medium preset averages 159 FPS with a minimum of 135 and a maximum of 183, the High preset averages 99 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 95 FPS. The 4K data reveals a steeper decline for the High and Ultra presets, but they remain well above the playable threshold. The Medium preset shows the only recorded minimum FPS data across the entire set, at 135 FPS, which still offers a substantial buffer against any frame drops.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Inside, and it does so with remarkable ease. The verdict by resolution is clear: every resolution and every preset tested is playable. At 3840x2160, all four settings—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are listed as playable, with the best setting being Ultra at an average of 95 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same four settings are playable, with Ultra averaging 151 FPS. At 1920x1080, all settings are playable, with Ultra averaging 210 FPS.

The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and the lowest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset is 95 FPS at 4K Ultra. This means the system never dips below the threshold under any tested configuration. The data strongly suggests that users can max out the game's settings at any resolution and still enjoy a fluid experience. There is no scenario in which this hardware struggles with Inside.

CPU and GPU Roles

Understanding which component matters more for Inside requires examining how performance scales with resolution and settings. The game is relatively lightweight, and the data indicates that the GPU becomes the primary driver of frame rates as resolution increases. At 1920x1080, the average FPS jumps from 210 at Ultra to 430 at Low, a difference of 220 FPS. This massive swing is attributable to the GPU's workload decreasing at lower settings, but the CPU is not the limiting factor here.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 317 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 151 FPS. The gap narrows to 166 FPS, showing that the GPU's performance ceiling is being approached. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 199 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 95 FPS, a difference of 104 FPS. The diminishing returns at higher resolutions confirm that the GPU is the dominant factor in this game.

The CPU's role is secondary but not irrelevant. The Intel Core i9-14900K, with its 24 cores and 32 threads, is vastly overqualified for a 2D puzzle platformer. The fact that 1080p Low yields 430 FPS indicates that the CPU can feed the GPU with frames far faster than the GPU can render them. The scaling between resolutions shows that the GPU is the bottleneck at all settings, as evidenced by the consistent FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K. The CPU's influence is minimal, and users would see identical performance with a less powerful processor.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Inside at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes. The Ultra preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average of 95 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The highest average FPS is 430, recorded at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Are there any settings where the frame rate drops below 60 FPS?

A: No. The lowest average FPS across all tested resolutions and presets is 95 FPS at 4K Ultra. The only recorded minimum FPS is 135 FPS at 4K Medium, which is still far above the threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 compare to its nearest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172, while its nearest rivals—such as the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249) and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 (23250)—are within 0.4% of that score. Performance in Inside would be virtually indistinguishable.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU matter more for this game?

A: The GPU is the dominant factor. The data shows that FPS scales significantly with resolution and settings, which is characteristic of GPU-bound workloads. The CPU's influence is negligible, as even at 1080p Low, the system achieves 430 FPS, indicating the GPU is still the limiting component.

Q: What is the best setting to use for a high-refresh-rate 1440p monitor?

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 151 FPS, which is well-suited for monitors with refresh rates up to 144 Hz. For higher refresh rates, dropping to Low increases the average to 317 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i9-14900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination ranks 703rd out of 3716 tested combos for Inside. This places the system in the top 19% of all tested hardware configurations for this game. While the rank is not in the top tier, it reflects the fact that Inside is not a demanding title, and many lower-end combinations can achieve high frame rates. The absolute performance, however, is exceptional, with the system delivering over 200 FPS at 1080p Ultra and nearly 100 FPS at 4K Ultra.

The rank is influenced by the fact that Inside is a puzzle platformer with modest graphical requirements, so the hardware's massive compute resources are not fully utilized. The percentile rankings for the individual components—95th for the CPU and 68th for the GPU—show that this is a high-end pairing, but the game's simplicity means that even mid-range hardware can approach similar results. For users seeking a definitive answer, this combination provides a flawless experience, but the rank indicates that there is significant headroom for other titles that are more demanding.